What I’ve Learned From David Bowie

In 1997, David Bowie developed an internet service provider bowie.net — now Davidbowie.com. As one of the first artists in the industry, he put downloadable songs on the website. He foresaw it as a way to directly communicate with his fans, without interference from any middleman.

As I’ve observed him over the years and even after his passing in 2018, he, as to why I admire him so much, never fixed to presenting himself as one thing. The characters from Mary Jane to Ziggie, fit seamlessly into his life and his message. Whether intentionally or not, he transcended the boundaries of gendered clothing, ignored fleeting trends, and embraced a kaleidoscopic sense of experimentation.

Role models teach us who we can become — they make our dreams feel a bit more real and within reach. They remind us what’s possible when we choose to follow our heartfelt interests.

Bowie was known for experimenting and trying new things, whether it was musical, physical, or spiritual. As a storyteller he showed us several times that there are different ways to tell a story and to not be limited to one medium to engage with the world.

Again, Bowie taught me that you can have lots of other interests that can be rewarding even if you are not as successful as your job. Bowie liked to act (and obviously had some success in this area) and also liked to paint. Bowie taught me that success in one area of your life can lead to doing other more experimental and rewarding activities even if they are not as financially lucrative.

And when you really take a look around, you’ll notice that many others do the same. Take Fredrik Skavlan, the well-known Norwegian talk show host—besides his work on screen, he’s also an illustrator. Something rare, sure, but definitely not impossible. If you’re curious, you can find some of his work on his Instagram.

Another example is Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, who is more than just a driver—he actively uses his platform to challenge the sport’s traditionally white-dominated culture and brings attention to fashion and social justice issues rarely seen in motorsports.

Jennifer Lopez is also an example of someone who has more than one passion, and has built her brand around being a singer, dancer, and actress, seamlessly blending these roles to create a multifaceted, powerful presence in the entertainment industry.

So I’ve learned something over the years that I keep coming back to: we’re not just one thing — and we were never meant to be. Still, we are conditioned to have a plan and to fit in a certain job, but once I started following more what I really cared about, opportunities popped up that I didn’t even know existed. 

Here is a list of the last 3 personal letters I’ve sent:

• Sleeping Under the Sahara Sky
• This once obscure little blog few people read
• How Beauty Has Always Kept Women Occupied

» Explore more letters from me